PM Hasina vows to bring corrupt people to justice

The Awami League government is determined to bring to book anyone involved in corruption and nepotism, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said at a reception accorded by Bangladeshi expatriates in Rome.

The prime minister came down hard on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently behind bars in a graft case.

Hasina attended the reception organised by Bangladeshi expats in the Italian capital after she spoke at the 41st session of the IFAD (International Fund for Agriculture Development) governing council earlier the day.

In the name of resisting elections and ousting the government, the BNP carried out arsons and terror activities in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Hasina said.

“They burnt more than 3,000 people over these three years. Those victims include members of police, BGB and army,” she said.

Khaleda’s current state is a result of cases filed by “her people” -- Fakhruddin Ahmed, Moeen Uddin Ahmed and Iajuddin Ahmed, she said adding that the Awami League did not sue her.

“The BNP followers question the merit of the case as it involves only Tk 20 million. It’s as if a scale needs to be invented to measure corruption.”

“The court took 10 years to complete the case. We would have done it right after coming to power in 2008 if we had such authority,” Hasina said.

BNP’s corrupt practices led to the state of emergency in 2007, Hasina said. She accused Khaleda’s sons of amassing wealth through corrupt means.